If you work on windows, you might have often been bombarded with prompts about how updates are available for your computer and that you are recommended to download and install them. You might be asking yourself the utility of these updates and whether they do anything other than consuming more space on your computer’s disk. Read on to find out.

The utility of Windows Security Updates

While Microsoft publishes a lot of different updates for Windows, by far the most important are the security updates. Once any software, especially one as popular as Windows, is released into the public space, chances are high that a hacker will try to exploit any potential flaws in the software’s architecture and use it to gather personal information or damage your system.

Since it is almost impossible to simulate every security threat in a lab environment (when the software is being QA’d) it is necessary for the Windows security team to be ready to work fast once new exploits into the system are discovered in the field. It is such work from the security team that manifests itself in the form of Windows Security updates.

What are the Windows Security Components?

Windows Security components include Action Center, BitLocker drive encryption, Windows Defender anti-malware, Data Execution Prevention (Hardware CPU level protection) , Mandatory Integrity Control, User Account Control , User Interface Privilege Isolation , Windows Firewall etc. Windows Security Updates are either targeted at bolstering any of the above or fixing low level system vulnerabilities against external attack. Some of the most famous incidents of malicious software infections have come after security updates were publicly available from Microsoft like – Blaster, Zotob, the very recent Flame virus, Conficker and Sasser, to name just a few.

How many kinds of updates are there?

There are different kinds of updates. Security updates or critical updates protect against vulnerabilities to malware and security exploits. Other updates correct errors that aren’t related to security, they enhance functionality. While these are important as well, if you are constrained for Internet bandwidth you should definitely go for the security update first.

How can we get these updates?

Security updates are routinely provided on the second Tuesday of each month, known as Patch Tuesday, but can be provided whenever a new update is urgently required to prevent a newly discovered or prevalent threat targeting Windows users. Windows Update can be configured to install critical updates automatically so long as the computer is connected to the Internet, without you needing to install them manually, or even be aware that an update is required. Alternatively, if you want to manage your updates manually you can do so as well. For manual updating visit http://www.update.microsoft.com/

These days, since we are totally dependent on the Internet, we have to be responsible in the way that we use it. With concerns of the constant media bombardment about viruses, worms, hacking – we should be extra careful to keep our machines up to date and before clicking on anything that we aren’t sure of. Windows security updates are extremely essential for our windows to run safe and smooth.

ADM is an IT professional who also specializes in writing for various online software magazines. She is a regular contributor to the website http://www.dailydeals4you.com/ which provides antivirus software coupons such like Bitdefender coupon code, Kaspersky coupons among others.